The Arlecchino Story (short version)

The story of Arlecchino began in 1908 when Nonno Mazzoni as a 14 year old left his village of Castiglione near La Spezia in North West Italy in search of work.

He found employment in Cowdenbeath in 1912 working for other Italian immigrants making ice cream. He returned to serve Italy for the duration of WW1, after which he returned to La Spezia and marry Nonna Eda.

They returned to Scotland in 1921 and opened Mazzoni's Cafe, a small ice cream parlour in Greenock. In 1924 they moved to our premises and expanded the business which they ran with their sons Dino and Bruno until they retired to castiglione in 1962.

Dino and Bruno took over the cafe with their wives Licia and Gina expanding it to a restaurant in 1966 naming it Arlecchino. (a comic character from the Italian 16th century)

In 1971 Dino died at the age of 44 and Bruno and Gina emigrated to Australia in 1972 leaving Licia to take the business forward which she did magnificently until her retirement in 1997. It is now run by two of her sons, Giovanni and Michele.